Is it Really A Happy Columbus Day???

Happy Columbus Day?

It's Columbus Day here in NY, but it's leaving everyone a little confused.
What exactly are we celebrating by having the day off from school, having less buses, and finding public transportation at a minimum?

A decade ago, kids were taught in school that Columbus discovered America. Yikes, was that off the mark. Then came Amerigo Vespucci, who hypothesized that one could sail to America, that it was actually there, and so "discovered" America first.  As a kid back then, I was left wondering what exactly was going on with the education that I was getting!

Then came the newer film, "1492", which really blew apart the happy holiday for lots of people, sending ripples through communities that had Native American heritage. 

So what's going on now? 
Well, many Italian-Americans still use the day to celebrate their own heritage as immigrants. I think that's just fine. A little get-together with family, some good food, and some fine wine seems like just the thing when you've got the day off. 

But in Queens, something else is going on: 

Inwood Queens Indian Rituals

There's been a discovery of some shells buried in a construction site. and it looks like a possible Indian burial might be there. So there's going to be a little ritual and some discussion and explanation of what really happened when Chris Columbus came over. 

Sounds good. 

Not that it has anything to do with what I'm doing, standing on a roof. :)
Happy CC day to all my Italian friends, and peace to you, my American-Indian neighbors.